Mrs.Delta
DRAMA FAMILY MELODRAMA MYSTERY YOUNG ADULT
20th Century (multiple decades)
Bettina Horton
Logline
A caring foster mother of five, Mrs. Delta, must risk her life and the safety of her children to prevent an abused, broken teenage girl, Trina, from a ruthless prostitution boss. As she gets to know Trina, Mrs. Delta realizes their pasts aren't so different and helps her realize a future she never
Genre
Drama,Family,Melodrama,Mystery,Young Adult
Short Summary
The theme of the screenplay could be stated as, “we have only one life to live right”. Under this theme, the screenplay forces us to live our life avoiding drugs and involving in sex trafficking and also to rescue others from them.
The audience understands the responsibility of being protected and protecting from human trafficking and drugs. And the audience will understand the value of caring and loving each other to protect their loved ones and the value of caring children who has already start destroying their lives.
Setting
Mississippi
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Voyage and Return
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending,Meaningful Message,Twist,Coming of Age
Mature Audience Themes
Sexual Abuse,Substance Abuse,Incest
Main Character Details
Name: Mrs.Delta
Age: 50-65
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Heroic,Leader,Honorable,Selfless,Outspoken,Aspiring,Badass,Religious,Funny
Additional Character Details
Name: Trina
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Funny,Adventurous,Badass,Aggressive,Clumsy,Crazy,Criminal,Decisive,Outspoken
Additional Character Details
Name: Bulldog
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Masculine,Aggressive,Badass,Narcisstic,Villainous,Crazy,Criminal,Power Hungry,Greedy,Naive
Additional Character Details
Name: Bulldog
Age: 45-55
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Masculine,Badass,Aggressive,Narcisstic,Villainous,Crazy,Power Hungry,Desperate,Greedy,Strong Moral Code,Manipulative,Unapologetic,Leader
Development Pitch
Mrs. Delta is a screenplay that discusses the effect of the dark sides of the modern society on the children. The feature screenplay also discusses human trafficking and drugs. Not only how children become victims of human trafficking and drugs, but also how their parent’s drug addiction and involvement in human trafficking affects children. The theme of the screenplay could be stated as, “we have only one life to live right”. Under this theme, the screenplay forces us to live our life avoiding drugs and involving in sex trafficking and also to rescue others from them. This is based on a story of a victim of those kinds of businesses and a lady who fights against them. The story flows revealing the tragedy of a teenage girl named Trina and her messed-up life as the result of sextrafficking and drug addiction of her mother. As the main plot of the feature, the story shows the effort of a caring lady who tries to protect Trina’s life from these dark sides of the society. She is Mrs. Delta. The moral of the story highlights the social responsibility of protecting the children from sex trafficking. And also pays the attention of audience to protect, and to be protected by drug addiction.And more than anything, the audience will understand that, any one, in any situation, can turn back to the correct path.
Genre
ACTION, SUSPENSE, DRAMA
Brief
Ms. Rosetta fosters kids to keep them out of trouble but her newest girl causes more trouble than the rest. Trina is independent and smart teen but also lonely from a bad home life. She catches the eye of Ms. Rosetta but also of a notorious pimp Bulldog. Ms. Rosetta tries to save Trina so she doesn't go down the wrong path, but Bulldog's control starts to escalate into dangerous territory.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
For the most part the script is accurately represented in the profile. However, the short summary has a theme about "you only have one life to live" and that it should be used to avoid substances and sex trafficking which does not seem to fit. This negates the redemption arc of Gloria in that she had these things happen to her but was able to transform and still be okay. The theme about only one life is also not as apparent in the script.
Draw of Story
The hook takes a bit to shine through as Ms. Rosetta is treated like the protagonist in the opening rather than Trina who is the one who is driving the plot forward and thus the true protagonist.
Possible Drawbacks
The ending message about sex trafficking is a bit unclear as it undermines people who don't have a choice in order to survive nor does it cover those who are forced to participate against their will. Gloria's story is much more realistic that Trina's in that she was coerced by her boyfriend rather than a random old man. Tyrone's involvement at the end is confusing because it looks like he is playing both sides and his motivation is unclear. Keeping Trina's inner conflict transformation more consistent will make the defeat of Bulldog on the same pacing and help clarify the message of sex trafficking.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that Trina is being groomed for sex trafficking just as people start giving her the care she needs to better her life. She is at a crossroads with two very different futures so the tension is in which future will win out.
Fanbase Potential
As a drama with Trina as the protagonist this could have a larger audience than Ms. Rosetta as the protagonist. Ms. Rosetta is an essential character but she doesn't seem like the protagonist more like a mentor along Trina's hero's journey.
Awards Potential
Depending on the protagonist and how clear and correct the themes are about sex-trafficking this has some potential to gain notice due to the uncommonly shown situations and range of emotions.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
FISH TANK, THIRTEEN, KIDS, PRECIOUS, BRICK
What’s New About the Story
The originality stems from Trina's path and her situation in how she finds self worth. Ms. Rosetta needs a clearer and more striking inner conflict transformation in order to maintain emotional investment in her as the protagonist instead of Trina or there could be a greater focus on Trina especially in the first act.
Lead Characters
Trina and Ms. Rosetta are both headstrong, secretly longing for someone they can depend on and yet fiercely independent.
Uniqueness of Story
The story has some nice moments and some memorable bleak moments but needs a pit more polish to make the structure and themes clear.
Possible Formats
Film
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
The dialogue has a lack of realistic nuance to it especially when it comes to discussing sex work. There are multiple flat side characters such as Ms. Rosetta's foster kids who do not influence the plot nor do they go through a transformation. Trina seems more like the protagonist than Ms. Rosetta.
Tips for Improvement
Fixing the emotional investment in Ms. Rosetta's own inner conflict to match the power of Trina's crossroads would help make her feel more like the protagonist or dual protagonist with Trina. Making sure that Trina's resolution stays linear and on pace with Bulldog's external conflict would also help strengthen the resolution and themes of the story.